Combination ratchet tool



A. R. LINDEN. comsmm'mw RATCHE? mm. APPLICATION FILF ALHLZ, W21,

Patented J My 4, 1922.

C m T N4 M1 d 8 9r iJ Z A TTORNEYS UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ALFRED R. LINDEN. OF DORCHESTER. MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR 6F ONE HALF T0 SARAH W. CAMPBELL. OF NEWTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

COMBINATION RATCHET TOOL.

Specification of Letters Yatent.

*atented July 4, 1922.

To all ir/Amh if may (.OIMCIILI Be it liilown that l, ALFRED R. LiNm-JN. a citizen of the United States. and residentof. Dorclwstcr. in the county of Sutl'olk and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in (ombination Ratchet Tools, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to ratchet tools and is directed more particularly to a holder or handle member to which wrench sockets. screw drivers and other work engaging tool parts may be detachably secured and operated.

A preferred form of this invention is an improi ement on the construction illustrated in the Campbell Patent 1.371.350. issued March 15. 1921. and includes two axially.

aligned. relatirely-rotatable members connected through the medium of a ratchet mechanism. Each of these members may be adapted for the attachment of a screw dIiVCl','\\'l1-ll(fl1 socket. twist drill. or other tool or work engaging part which it may be desired to use... The tool may thus be operated by turning one member. and the turning force transmitted directly to the tool or transmitted through the ratchet to the tool. depending upon which member has the tool attached thereto.

As one feature of my invention I make one of the two relatively rotatable members materially longer than the other and of such s'ze that it may conveniently serve as a handle or hand grip portion. and it also preferably made hollow so that it may servc as a storage chamber or carrier for certain or all of the tool or work engaging parts when the latter are not in use.

another important feature of my invent'ion, I have provided means for thc attaoliment of a handle bar to either of the relatively rotatable members. for rotating the device. Thus it is not necessary to remove the tool from the device and put it in the opposite end in order to change from a. direct or positive drive to an indirect or ratchet drive.

As another feature. l construct the two relat vely rotatable members for the attaclo men. of dillerent kinds of tools. "lhus. either kind oi tool may be positively or ratchetl and the desired force for eithertoc n i he applied by the use of the bandi rar attached to either member.

Another leatm'c olmy invcntimi consistS in the provision of a novel ratchet llitliub nism which may he quickly adiustcd. at will. to permit relative rotation of parts in one direction. while preventing such 1o tation in the other direction. and vice \HSH. and which may also he quickly adjusted to prevent relative rotation of said parts in either direction.

In order that my device may be adapted for use a socket wrench to lit different sizes of threaded parts. I have provided as another important feature a hexagonal re cess at one end of one member. and a series of liners ol different. sizes to it into each other and all in said recess. This is pai ticularlv convenient in removing; or tighteir ing: spark plugs. The recess may be made o l proper i'linicnsions to lit the largest standard sizc spark plug. The larger of these liners has an aperture dinwnsioned to lit the medium size standard spark plum and the smaller liner is. in turn. designed to fit within the largrcr. and adapted to ciigage the small size. standard plug.

Other Features of my iuicution will be clearly understood from the detailed de scription and appended claims which follow.

In the drawing:

hip. 1 is a longitudinal section ol' a dcvice in accordance with my lllflliillill.

Figs. 2. Il'and l arc cross-sectional views alon; the line X--X ol' Fig. l. illuslrating the operation of the raterhcl mechanism.

Fig. 5 is an assembly view in elevation on a smaller scale than the ---cctioi:il view of Fig. l. and shows a scrcw diwrcr tip inserted in one end of the :lcvic Fig. H is another assembly \..\v in cle valion showing a socket wrench altachn'ienl. secured lo the end ol lhc device opposite to that in which the. screw driver tip is S8- cured in Fig. 5.

Fifi. 7 is an end view of Fig. (1. and Fig. 8 is a sectional View ol one end of the device togethcr with two liners. each of whi h is (lesig ned to fil a difl'crcnt size spark lug.

In the torn: illustrated. the two main members 1 and ii are in avial alignment. and relatively rotatable. Merely as one convenient \"iifp of connectin these members the. member l is provided with a recess 3 in which the member 2 is seated, and the latter is held in place hy a washer -l' which engages a shoulder thereon. fter the memher :2 and the washer l are put in place, the edge of the wall of the recess is spun over the edge of the washer thereby lirmly securing the latter. a

My improved means for permitting or preventing relative rotation of the two members includes radially extending ratchet teeth ".21 on the inner member 2. adapted to he engaged by the oppositely disposed dogs or pawls 3 and (3 which act in radial apertures in the peripheral wall of the recess. spring 7 encircles said wall. preferably in an annular groove. and engages with the dogs to normally press them inwardly into operative position. The dogs have cam and straight faces so disposed that one may operate to prevent rotation of the member :3 in one direction and the other prevent rotation in the opposite direction. For controlling the action of these dogs I provide a button h which may he moved to a position adjacent to either dog to hold that one out of operation. As shown. it is secured to the middle portion of the wire spring 7. which latter is slidable in holes through the dogs. it will he noted that the annular wire spring T is held eccentrically to the axis or the members 1 and 2 by the button 8.

in Fig. 2 the button H is adjacent to the dog 6 and holds it out oi engagement with the ratchet teeth .21. while the dog 5 is held in engagement therewith. The member 2 is then capahle o1 being turned in the direction indicated by the arrow. but not in the opposite direction. In Fig. 3 the button 8 is shown midway between the dogs 5 and 6 so that hoth are engaged with the ratchet teeth 21. In this position, members 1 and .2 are incapable of relative rotation. In Fig. 4 the button 8 is shown adjacent to the dog 5 so that the latter is disengaged from the ratchet teeth. while the dog (3 is engaged therewith. The niemher :3 is then apable of rotation relative to member I in the, direction indicated by the arrow. For holding the hutton h in any one ol these positions, any suitable means may be employed as for instance. appropriately placed recesses 5) it) and II which a. boss 80 on the button 8 may enter.

All that it is necessary to do. then, to change the direction of permissible relative rotation. or to lock the members against relative rotation is to shift the button 8 into registration with the appropriate recess 9, 10, or 11. The wire spring 7 not only operates as a means for holding the dogs 5 and 6 out of engagement. but also functions as a spring for holding them in engagement with the ratchet teeth. and holds the dogs and button in assembled relationship.

in any one of For facilitating the attachment of a too or other part to the member 2, the latter is provided at its outward end portion with a non-circular recess 23 into which a tool, such as a screw driver or an extension bar, or a wrench socket or a twist drill socket may be inserted. For permitting the application of greater levera e in the rotation of the tool either directfy or through the ratchet, the members 1 and 2 are provided with means for facilitating the attachment of a. handle or lever bar thereto. This is shown as a lateral aperture 24 in the memher 2 and a similar aperture 13 in the memher 1 into either of which the lever bar 12 may be inserted for turning the device.

Power may be directly up lied to a. tool held by member 2 in the race s 23 if the bar 12 be inserted in the aperture 24: or it may be indirectly a )plied, that is, applied through the rate et, by inserting'the bar in aperture 13. For instance, when putting on a nut. the bar 12 would be first inserted in aperture 13] and the nut turned through the medium of the ratchet until it offered considerable resistance to turning, whereupon the bar would he withdrawn from aperture 13 and inserted in aperture 24 and the final turns would then be given without danger of damaging the ratchet mechanism. Likewise, when removing a nut the bar could be used first in 24 and then in 13.

"ith the arrangement described, it will be seen that the tool may be driven either with or without the ratchet as desired, without the necessity of turning the device end for end to eli'eet the change. Furthermore, the operator may firmly grip the member 1 and apply em wise pressure on the tool and rotate the latter by the harin aperture 24- without rotation of the member 1. \Vith the tool in member 2. it is not ordinarily necessary to use the bar in the aperture 13 as the member 1 maybe ripped in the hand and oscillated when the nut turnseasily.

One end oi har li? is shown in Fig. 7 as bent at right angles to the main portion thereof. so that. when the tool is not in use the short portion of the bar may be inserted in aperture 24 and the body of the bar swung around to lie parallel to the handle 1.

To permit the handle 1 to be of adequate size to be conveniently gripped in the hand and. at the. same time to keep the weight down. it is preferably made hollow and the interior chamber 15 utilized as a storage or carrying space for work engaging or accessory parts such as screw driver blades and the like when not in use.

The end of the chamber 15 may serve as a. a reach socket and may also receive a plug 16 which serves the double function of a closure and as a connecting piece for a work engaging part. The end of the chamber 15 and the closure are shown as hexagonal in Cross section and'the plug 161 is; provided with-a non-circular recess-17; intowhich a too-her an'extension bar It of any desired length maybe inserted for the attachment and tool. Aitool thus secured to this end o t-rthe device may be directly drivenby rotating the handle or may be operated b the llever bar either directly .or throng the ratchet.

At times :it is desirable to havetwo tools immediately available for use, such as a screw driver 19 and awrench socket 20, or tire wrench sockets of different size. This may-lbs accomplished by having a tool attache l'to each end of the device, and either may-die operated by the lever bar either directly or through the ratchet.

'iA plurality of wrench sockets -20 of differentsizes maybe provided to all fit onthe extension or connecting bar 18 and means maybe provided for directly connectin diffenentl sized sockets to the handle 1 without thcarlosure 16 ,or bar 18. This may be ac c'omplished by a plurality of liners. The fluent 35 shown in Fig. 8 may be formed-of ai piece-of hexagonal steel tubing. Its out side limensions are such thatit fits Within the hexagonal recess in the end of handle 1. A; second liner 26 is designed, in turn, to fit inside-liner 25. Ii -desired, they may be split lengthwise andnormally expanded outwardly to some extent so that in order to be inserted, thesmaller within the larger, and the larger within the recess in handle 1, they tmistbe squeezed together. After having been inserted, the outward spring tension 'holdsthem in place. Although Wrench sockets so formed by a series of concentric liners are adaptable for a l the purposes of the ordinary wrench socket, I preferably make them of such dimensions that the open end of the chamber 15. the interior of the liner .25. and the interior of the liner 26 will receive and lit the three standard sizes of spark plugs. Thus the handle 1 may be slipped over the spark plug, with or with-- out liners depending on the size of the plug, and the plug turned by the lever bar 12 either directly or through the ratchet,' lependant upon which of themembers l or 2 the lever bar is attached to.

I preferably employ means for frictionally holding the detachable or separable parts together, but permitting their ready separation. For this purpose I have illus trated spring n'cssed halls partly projecting from drilled holes in certain of the parts. The holes may be reduced in diameter at their outer ends so as to prevent the escape ol the balls. I have shown the member 2 provided with such a hall 27 for engagement with the lever bar til. the closure 16 with a hall 25 for engagement with.the inner surface of the chamber 15. the bar 18 with balls 29 adjacent opposite ends for engagement=with the recesses in the closure 1 6-and the wreli'ch sockets 20, and each screw rotation of said members in one direction,

and to prevent relative rotation of said mombersin the other direction, each otsaid members being provided with an aperture 'for the reception of a lever bar.

2. A tool comprising two coaxial members, each being adapted for the attachment thereto of a lever bar and each being adapted for the attachment of a work engaging part theretog'and a ratchet mechanism operable to permit relative rotation of said members in one direction and to prevent relative rotation of said members in the other direction. i

8. In combination, two members, each adapted forthe attachment of a work engaging part, and each adapted for the attachment of a lever handle and ratchet connections between the members whereby a work engaging part attached to either member may be operated by the lever handle on that member or through the ratchet from the lever handle on the other member.

4. A tool comprising two concentric members, and means operable to permit relative rotation of saidv members in one direction and to prevent relative rotation of said mem bers in the opposite direction, each of said members being provided with an aperture substantially at right angles to the axis of rotation for the reception of a turning bar, one of Said members being adapted for the attachment of a work engaging part.

5. A tool comprising two concentric members, and means operable to permit relative rotation of said members in one direction and to prevent relative rotation of said members in the opposite direction, each of said 'members being provided with an aperture substantially at right angles to the axis of rotation for the reception of a turning bar,

each of said members being adapted for the attachment of a work engaging part.

6. A tool including a hollow handle, a closure member for one end, and a member having ratchet connections with the handle at the opposite end, each of said members having means for the attachment of a work engaging part thereto.

7. A tool including a hollow handle, a

closure member for one end, and a member having ratchet connections with the. handle at the opposite emL each of said members having'a noncircnlar recess for the attachment of a \vorkengaging part thereto.

8. In combination. an elongated handle member presenting a recess in one end, and a member having a ratchet wheel at one end, and means for connecting a work engaging part at the other end. and means intermediate the ends for the attachment of a lever bar. said ratchet wheel being disposed in said recess and lucid, from relative rotation in one direction. i

9. A tool including an elongated handle for applying qa huisc pressureto a work engaging part. and a vone piece member having a recess in one end for slip connection of the work engaging part. and a transverse aperture intermediate of the ends fora lever handle and means engaging a' surface at the other end thereof and adapted to hold said member against rca'tion In one direction in respect to sai, handle but permitting rotation in the opposite direction.

10. A tool oompiuaz'g two concentric members. a ratchet ofnmer of said mem' bersa pair of dogs eai'r-ie'd by and dis )osed on the opposite sides of the outer'o said.

members and radially movable through the wall thereof, one of said dogs being ada ted to engage said ratchet and prevent re ative rotation of said members in one direction, and the other of 'said dogs being adapted to engage said ratchet and prevent relative rotation of said members in the other direction, a spring extending around the outer surface of the outer member and engaging both of said dogs to serve as the sole means for holdin them in place and as means for resilient y pressing them to- 14. An eldn ted-"hollow ward the ratchet, and a button on the outer surface of the outer member engaging Si spring and movable to a point adjacent to either dog for holding that dog inoperative.

1.1. A tool including a hollow handle presenting a non-circular opening at one end adapted for use as a wrench socket, a plug closure for said opening and having a noncircnlar recess and a member adapted to engage said recess for attaching a work'- engaging part to said closure.

1:2. A. tool including a tubular handle having a chamber therein adapted to carry work-enga ing parts and having an opening at one an of the full size of the interior of the chamber and adapted to serve as a wrench socket, and a non-circular plug closure for said opening and provided with a non-circular portion of smaller size for at-' tat-hment of work-en ging parts thereto.

13. A tool inclu ing 'a-tubnlar handle adapted to carry work engaging parts therein and a, non-circular plug closure having a slip friction fit in one end of said handle for retaining said arts therein, and provided with a non-circa ar recess for the attachment of work engaging andle member adapted for t a storage of work engaging parts therein and having means at each end thereof for the attachment of a work on: gaging part in alignment thprewith and ratchet connections between said member and one only of said means, the other of said means being removable and constituting a closure for the chamber within the handle.

ALFRED R. LINDEN.

parts thereto" 

